The Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, has congratulated rising gymnastics star Saarah Bosch, 8, for her outstanding performances representing her club and province throughout the year.
Mackenzie visited Saarah at her family friend Brenda Tommy’s residence in Lotus River on Friday, October 16, where he praised the young gymnast for her achievements.
Gold and bronze medals for Saarah
Saarah delivered an impressive performance at the South African Gymnastics Championships in September, representing the Western Province Gymnastics Squad and winning gold in the acrobatics section in Johannesburg.
She followed this achievement with a bronze medal in the aerobics competition held in Mahikeng in October.
Her success extended to provincial competitions, where she represented Wasabi Sports Club. She won gold in her level category at the Western Cape Artistic Gymnastics Championships (“Young gymnastics star appeals for support to compete at SA Nationals,” Southern Mail, July 2026) in Saldanha. She claimed another gold medal at the Cape Town Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Provincial MEC praises young role model
Mackenzie said: “It is important to congratulate young Saarah, along with her guardians and parents, for all the work they put in to put this young lady on the stage,” he said.
“She is a role model for many of our young people. We have a lot of challenges in our community, so it is always nice to showcase positivity and how we, as a government, can help create a pathway for people like young Saarah on the beautiful Cape Flats.”
Mackenzie also encouraged sports clubs seeking financial assistance to explore the provincial government’s Club Development Programme.
“There is a pathway, though you must be a formally registered club. You can apply for our Western Cape Government Club Development Programme,” he said.
He added that clubs must also be affiliated with a recognised federation. Saarah trains at Wasabi Sports Club, which is affiliated with the Western Cape Gymnastics Federation.
Community rallies behind young gymnast
Throughout the year, Saarah’s mother, Rushana Bosch, has led fundraising efforts to ensure her daughter could travel to various competitions.
“I feel so happy that Saarah could get all the recognition, and it helped with her getting support to go to the tournaments,” she said.
Community members also played a role in helping Saarah pursue her sporting ambitions.
Brenda Tommy’s granddaughter, Cassidy Hendricks, supported Saarah by helping raise more than R2 700 through raffle ticket sales and food sales, with assistance from her grandparents, Brenda and Christopher Tommy.
Speaking on behalf of Cassidy, Brenda said her granddaughter was delighted to help a young person from their community.
“Cassidy is excited that she could help assist Saarah, who lives in the area, to get to her competition, as it is expensive,” she said.
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WESLEY FORD
southernmail.co.za